Wrench.



- N o.761,961. PAIENTED JUNE 7,1904;

w. H'IGHPILL. WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

@47 M Qttowwq THE NORR! PET H5 CO PHOTO L THU V ASHINGTOV D O UNITEDSTATES Patented June '7, 1904 PATENT OEEIcE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,961, dated June 7,1904.

Application filed March 9 1904:.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILBUR HIGH- FILL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Farmer City, in the county of De Witt and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches having their movablejaws provided with teeth which are engaged by similar teeth on theshank, the engagement being effected by a cam, said 'cam being locked inposition by an automatic catch.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a catch to lock the camin fixed position after the movable jaw has been located on its shank.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wrench.Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section of the same.

1 represents a shank serrated on its edge to form teeth 1 and having atopposite ends a fixed jaw 2 and a handle 8. A movable jaw 4 is adaptedto be slid along the shank, and it consists of a biting portion 6,having its upper surface serrated to form teeth 7, and ears 8 8,extending upwardly from the said biting portion each side of and abovethe shank 1. The cars 8 carry perforations, through which a pin 10passes. A cam-lever 11 is pivoted on the pin 10, and it is formedadjacent said pin with acam 12, and extending outwardly therefrom is afinger-piece 13, by means of which the cam may be operated.

Fastened to the side of the shank is a spring catch 15, formed at itsupper end with an overhanging head 16, positioned tobe at all times inthe path of the tinger piece 13.

In operation the movable jaw is moved along the shank until the desiredposition is reached,

Serial No. 197,332. (No model.)

when the cam 12 is thrown down on the shank to draw the teeth 1 and 7into engagement to set the jaw, and in throwing down the fingerpiece itforces the head 16 of the catch out of its path, whereupon as soon assaid fingerpiece passes the head the latter springs out and positivelyholds the cam down on the shank. The locking of the cam preventsaccidental displacement while using the wrench, and thus enhances thevalue of the tool.

I am aware it is old in the art to use a cam to position the movable jawof a wrench; but all of suchdevices are liable to become free at acritical time, and, as far as I am aware, it is new with me to lock thecam-lever after the latter is operated to fix the position of themovable jaw.

What I claim as new is A wrench comprising astationary jaw, and a shankhaving a series of teeth, a toothed movable jaw slidably mounted on theshank, a slot formed in the movable jaw, a cam-lever pivoted in theslot, said lever lying flat on the shank when the teeth are inengagement to fix the movable jaw on the shank, andv a springcatchfastened to the side of the movable jaw, a head on the outer free end ofthe springcatch which overhangs the shank and is in the radial plane ofthe cam-lever, said lever snapping under the head of the catch when itis thrown down on the shank, the lever freeing itself from its closedposition on the shank when it is rocked and pushes the head out of itsplane, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two witnesses.

- THOMAS WILBUR HIGHFILL.

Witnesses:

HENRY FUNK, O. I- BURFORD.

